Sarah Palin has a warning for Ron DeSantis: Don’t take on Trump.
The former Alaska governor and vice-presidential candidate issued the edict to DeSantis as he prepares to decide whether to throw his hat in the 2024 presidential ring against the former president.
“DeSantis doesn’t need to [challenge Trump],” Palin said in a Tuesday night appearance on the right-wing Newsmax network. “I envision him as our president someday, but not right now.”
Palin framed her statement as friendly advice to DeSantis and effusively praised him.
“He’s our best governor and he should stay governor for a bit longer,” Palin said, “He’s young. You know, he has decades ahead of him where he can be our president.”
But she made little effort to hide that she is firmly in Trump’s corner, whether DeSantis runs or not.
“I’m assuming it’s gonna be Trump that’s the nominee,” she declared.
Palin is considered a possible candidate to be the vice presidential nominee on a Trump-led ticket even though she has been out of elected office for nearly 15 years.
She seemed to be describing herself when she ticked off the characteristics of the ideal MAGA veep candidate.
“Trump needs to choose somebody who, like him, has nothing to lose,” Palin said. “That person has been through the wringer, so they know what they’re getting into. And that person then can just focus on doing what’s right for the people.”
Palin was governor of Alaska when she burst onto the national scene in 2008 after the late Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) picked her as his running mate for an ill-fated run against future President Barack Obama.
She tried to mount a comeback last year by running for the state’s only seat in the House of Representatives but fell to Rep. Mary Peltola (D-Alaska).
